The French general praises Pakistan’s air defense and blames Indian pilots for the loss of Rafale.

There was a fight in May 2025.

This is the most recent confirmation from an international source, following confirmations from US President Donald Trump and the US Congress.

Captain Jacques Launay, who is in charge of the Naval Air Base at Landivisiau, spoke to attendees at an international Indo-Pacific conference.

He said that the failure wasn’t because of any problems with the Rafale jets themselves, but because of the Indian pilots who were flying them.

The French station is home to a squadron of Rafale planes that can carry more than 40 nuclear missiles. Captain Launay has been flying these jets for more than 25 years and has been on many missions in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The French general spoke at the Indo-Pacific Conference and lauded Pakistan’s air defense capabilities, saying that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) handled the situation very well.

He said that the Indian Rafale jets didn’t crash because Chinese planes are better in technology, but because Pakistan has great defenses and plans.

He said that the fighting was very complicated, with more than 140 fighter jets involved, and that Pakistan had done a better job of dealing with it than India.

Captain Launay explained that the problem with the Rafale’s radar system during the fight was not with the devices themselves but with how they were used. He said that Rafales could beat Chinese jets in every kind of battle, as long as the systems were employed correctly.

He also said that the Indian government is now interested in buying the naval version of the Rafale, which can land on aircraft carriers at sea. The French Navy is the only navy that can carry nuclear missiles, and these naval Rafales can do it too.

Experts say that the in-depth study of the air war between Pakistan and India has drawn attention from around the world and provided useful information about military strategy for future wars, especially when it comes to how pilots, fighter jets, and air-to-air missiles work in real-life situations.